Raising Resilient Bees
Heritage Techniques to Mitigate Mites, Preserve Locally Adapted Genetics, and Grow Your Apiary
Raising Resilient Bees challenges accepted practices in commercial beekeeping, based on decades of experience on an organic farm.
Advocates of stewarding bees with minimal disturbance to the hive, Eric and Joy McEwen argue that prioritizing profit can harm bee colonies and beekeepers. They also warn that doing nothing for weakened hives can be dangerous. Having walked that fine line themselves, they share wisdom for aspiring apiarists and those seeking a more natural approach.
The book dives into the practicalities of natural beekeeping, with technical details on hive design, rearing queens, controlling mites, and splitting colonies. There’s a chapter on making a living in the beekeeping business and profiting responsibly from one’s hives.
For those who hope to contribute to a healthier future for honeybees, Raising Resilient Bees is inspiring. It will strike a chord with those who feel an instinctive love for the land and a desire to follow the most harm-free practices in agriculture. The book is loaded with romantic language about bees and the honey they produce. But the McEwens are also brutally honest about the challenges of beekeeping and their failures during years of experimentation. Admitting to those mistakes makes their arguments about what works that much more convincing.
Reviewed by
Brandee Gruener
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
